Positive Outlook for Franchise M&A in 2026, with a Cautionary Note

Bank of America’s Managing Director, Ted Lynch, expresses his cautious stance on predicting a robust merger and acquisition (M&A) outlook for 2026. Lynch emphasizes the need for more positive microeconomic indicators and stronger results from the restaurant industry before feeling confident in making such predictions.

On a similar note, Shauna Smith, co-founder of Savory Fund, anticipates that M&A activity will intensify later in the year. This expectation is in line with observations of a potential upturn in corporate transactions within the realm of private equity.

Andrew Smith, another co-founder of Savory Fund, sheds light on the competitive advantage prevalent in private equity firms when engaging in deal-making processes. Smith highlights the ability of private equity firms to act swiftly in executing transactions, underscoring the importance of agility in capturing opportunities within the market.

The comments from these industry experts provide valuable insights into the current landscape of M&A activities and the factors influencing the trajectory of corporate transactions. As the year progresses, it will be interesting to monitor how market conditions evolve and how these forecasts materialize in the context of mergers and acquisitions.